The Impact Of Religions Upon International Politics
...a book this year (1), in which she pleads for a better integration of religious dimensions in the diplomatic approach, the american former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright underlines in which extent perception of religion has been modified during last twenty years in politician's approach. Throughout the 20th century actually, sociologists as political commentators had announced the fading, the weakening of religion in the industrial Age, indeed even predicted its disappearance. For a long time, the religious factor was not welcome in occidental social sciences, and in particular in international relations theories : many politicians remained reluctant to the idea to integrate it in their recflection, convinced that religion would stay confined in the private sphere, and that many others ideological dimensions would be much more relevant to envision international affairs. Nevertheless, different developments occurred
since the 80's brought about to revalue these perceptions, bringing to light the backlash of religion on the international political scene. The phenomenon had been visible especially at the time of events which have left a mark in recent History, such as the influence of catholic Church in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, or the climbing of radical islamism, but also the importance of religious references in the foreign politics speech of president Bush.
The religious factor reappears broadly that way, inviting international relations theories to reinstate it, especially in their analysis of confrontational dynamics. From then on, we no longer count works on the theme of the religion's come-back, and corollary, about "the clash of civilizations". This resurgence represents therefore an outstanding phenomenon of our time, which must be taken in account to study contemporary international relations. Envisioning the impact of...
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